SNF Saints vs. Cowboys Betting Odds
Carrie Stroup with your SNF Saints vs. Cowboys betting odds for Sunday Night’s marquee game. Place your 1st bet, get your 2nd bet for FREE here at Sportsbook.ag.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-2) at DALLAS COWBOYS (2-1)
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: New Orleans -3, Total: 54.5
Opening Line & Total: New Orleans -3, Total: 53.5
The surging Cowboys host the Saints on Sunday night in what should be an exciting, high-scoring affair.
New Orleans entertained the Vikings in its home opener and won 20-9 behind an efficient performance from its quarterback. QB Drew Brees (863 pass yards, 7.4 YPA, 5 TD, 2 INT) was 27-of-35 for 293 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions in the game and he should be able to replicate that success against a miserable Dallas defense that allows 6.2 yards per play (3rd-worst in NFL).
The Cowboys were able to erase a 21-0 deficit in St. Louis in Week 3 to win 34-31 for their second straight victory. QB Tony Romo (674 pass yards, 7.6 YPA, 4 TD, 4 INT) completed 18-of-23 passes (78%) for 217 yards and two touchdowns in the game and will likely attack the Saints’ suspect secondary often. These clubs are meeting for the fifth time in six seasons, with New Orleans winning each of the past three matchups, including a 49-17 blowout last year at home. Since 2004, the Saints are 4-0 SU (3-1 ATS) in Dallas, including a wild 34-31 win at AT&T Stadium in 2012 when the teams combined for 1,008 total yards.
Despite the Saints' dominance in this series (8-2 SU and ATS since 1994), they are 0-6 ATS as a road favorite over the past two years, and Dallas is 9-2 ATS in the first half of the season in that time.
CB Morris Claiborne’s status is in question after leaving the Cowboys after being unhappy about his spot on the depth chart, and four other key defensive players are also questionable: LB Rolando McClain (groin), DE Anthony Spencer (knee), LB Justin Durant (groin) and DT Henry Melton (hamstring). The Saints defense could also be short-handed with LB David Hawthorne (ankle) and DB Marcus Ball (hamstring) both questionable.
The Saints are off to a disappointing start to the 2014 NFL season, as they dropped their first two games on the road against Atlanta and Cleveland, but picked up a much-needed home victory over the Vikings last Sunday. Many people expected the Saints to light up the scoreboard in that game, but they only scored 20 points in the win, with just seven points in the final three quarters. QB Drew Brees should do much better against this Dallas defense, as .the Cowboys are allowing 250.3 yards per game through the air (21st in NFL) on 7.6 YPA (25th in league), and that was against Colin Kaepernick, Jake Locker and Austin Davis.
Brees is clearly the best quarterback they’ve faced in the opening weeks of this season and he has had plenty of success versus this opponent in six starts with 347 passing YPG, 16 TD and 4 INT. In last year's blowout, Brees completed 34-of-41 passes for 392 yards (9.6 YPA), 4 TD and 0 INT. One player Brees will target often is TE Jimmy Graham (24 rec, 254 yards, 2 TD). The Cowboys have really struggled to defend the tight end position, with big performances coming from Vernon Davis, Delanie Walker and the combination of Jared Cook and Lance Kendricks in the first three weeks of the year. Dallas has allowed opposing TEs to catch an NFL-high 27 passes this year, and Graham, whose 31 targets are more than any tight end in the league, should come through with a big game on Sunday.
The Saints defense has been solid against the run this season, allowing just 101.3 yards per game on the ground (10th in NFL). They will need to be sharp on Sunday, as they go up against RB DeMarco Murray and what has been a great run-blocking offensive line for the Cowboys.
The Cowboys were seemingly out of their Week 3 game when they fell behind by three touchdowns against the Rams, but they kept chipping away and eventually came away with a huge victory. QB Tony Romo started to look a lot more comfortable under center and him being healthy is the only chance the Cowboys have of making the postseason this year.
The Saints are allowing 278.3 passing yards per game (29th in NFL), so this could be Romo’s chance to really put up some gaudy numbers. In the past two meetings with New Orleans, Romo has thrown for 544 yards, 8.1 YPA, 5 TD and 0 INT, and he lit up the Saints at home two years ago with 416 passing yards and four touchdowns. WR Dez Bryant (20 rec, 247 yards, 2 TD) gained 224 of those yards and 2 TD, but was held to just one catch in last year's meeting as defensive coordinator Rob Ryan (formerly the Cowboys DC) made sure Bryant wouldn't beat them. But Bryant had six catches for 89 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Rams, and the team should be able to find ways to get him open against a mediocre group of cover corners on the Saints.
The Cowboys have leaned heavily on the run this year though, as DeMarco Murray (NFL-best 385 rush yards; 5.1 YPC, 3 TD) has rushed for 100+ yards with a touchdown in all three games this season. Dallas will continue to emphasize its running game and take pressure off of Tony Romo, but Murray needs to protect the ball better, having lost three fumbles this year. Dallas’ defense has allowed 110.0 rushing yards per game (T-15th in NFL) and 250.3 passing yards per game (21st in NFL). Many people expected them to be amongst the league’s worst defensive units, but they have performed better than expected, but injuries to the back seven could hamper their ability to defend the pass.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
